FILE: JHC
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
The East Feliciana Parish School Board, recognizing the importance of worthwhile organizations in the school, encourages club activities. Such activities shall be held before or after school, on weekends, or whenever feasible as controlled by Bulletin 741, Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators. Since student organizations play an important part in the total development of the students only if adequate direction is given, the principal or the faculty sponsor of each organization shall attend organizational functions and offer encouragement and guidance. No organization shall be allowed to function within the school without a faculty sponsor.
Each principal shall develop general guidelines for the establishment and operation of student organizations within the school. Such guidelines shall include the approval of the principal prior to the formation of any club or organization, the assignment of at least one faculty advisor to each student organization, and compliance with provisions of Board policy. A faculty advisor shall be required to attend every meeting of the student organization whether conducted on school premises or at another location. Faculty advisor means a certificated employee working at the school where the student organization operates.
The formation of any student organization that may engage in activities of an apparent controversial nature that may, in the opinion of the principal, interfere with the legitimate educational concerns of the school, shall require approval by the School Board. All student organizations are required to open membership to all interested and/or eligible students. Additionally, fraternities, sororities and/or secret societies shall not receive recognition in any manner.
The principal is authorized to deny all requests for forming an organization where the requirements set forth herein or Board policy are not met. When the principal denies the request of students desiring to form an organization in a particular school, the principal shall inform the students of the reasons for the denial. The students may submit a written request to the Superintendent or designee within ten (10) days of the denial for a review of the principal's decision. The decision of the Superintendent or designee after review of the denial shall be final.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP IN STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
The public school is a democratic institution which requires that membership in clubs and other organizations of the school be based on objective criteria. Their criteria shall permit all students to compete for membership without prejudice as to race, creed, or subjective judgment of their peers.
Any combination of the following may be used as the basis for selecting students for membership:
Scholarship
Citizenship
Grade Level
Subject Field
Special proficiency evaluated by certified personnel on the basis of predetermined standards
Under no circumstances shall the membership in a school club to be determined by the subjective judgment of the students constituting the club.
The basic purpose for raising and expending money by student bodies, or student organizations, will be to promote the general welfare, morale, and educational experiences of the student body as a whole. All student organizations must be approved by the principal, Superintendent, and/or School Board. Student body financial affairs conducted in accordance with sound business principles and practices, including establishing budgets and exercising budgetary controls, shall offer minimum competition with business firms in the school district.
FUNDRAISING PROJECTS
In general, student body fundraising projects shall be limited to campus activities, or in connection with regularly scheduled school events. No individual or group shall instigate any project or activity involving the handling of money without first obtaining the permission of the principal and Superintendent. No class, club, or organization shall raise money through community sales, or off-campus events, without approval of the principal and Superintendent.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PRINCIPAL
The principal of the school shall be directly responsible for the conduct of student body activities in accordance with pertinent rules and regulations. The principal may delegate responsibility for handling details of administration and the maintenance of records and accounting procedures to other qualified individuals.
EQUAL ACCESS
As provided by the Federal Equal Access Act, any school which allows non-curriculum related groups access to school facilities during non-instructional time must adhere to the following criteria:
Equal access will not be denied on the basis of religious, political, philosophical or other content of such meetings or organizations;
The meetings are voluntary and student-initiated;
There is no sponsorship of the meetings by the school, the government, or its agents or employees;
Employees or agents of the school or government are present at religious meetings only in a non-participatory capacity;
The meetings do not materially and substantially interfere with the orderly conduct of educational activities within the school;
Non-school persons may not direct, conduct, control, or regularly attend activities of student groups; and
If access is given to school media such as bulletin boards, newspapers, or public address systems, it must be given to all non-curriculum related clubs on an equal basis.
Revised: February, 2003
Re-Adopted: August 5, 2003
Re-Adopted: April 1, 2008
Ref: 20 USC 4071-4074 (Equal Access)
20 USC 7905 (Equal Access To Public School Facilities)
La. Rev. Stat. Ann. ยงยง17:81, 17:2091
Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators, Bulletin 741, Louisiana Department of Education
Board minutes, 5-4-99, 8-5-03, 4-1-08
East Feliciana Parish School Board